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-----:Titanium Grade for Aluminum Anodizing Racks/Jigs
Quickstart:
In the anodizing of aluminum the components are immersed into a tank of acidic solution and connected to the anodic (+) positive pole of a power supply. The current separates some of the water in the solution into positively charged hydrogen and negatively charged oxygen. The oxygen is attracted to the positively charged components and converts the skin of the aluminum to aluminum oxides.
Readers new to anodizing of aluminum may wish to view our "Intro to Aluminum Anodizing".
The processing racks/jigs for anodizing of aluminum are usually made either of aluminum or titanium. The advantage of titanium racks is that they do not require stripping on each cycle, whereas aluminum racks become anodized and insulative along with the parts being anodized, and they cannot conduct power to subsequent loads of parts unless stripped.
Q. Which is the best grade of Titanium for jigs used for Aluminum Anodizing?
Gangal Shivanand- Pune, India
September 6, 2024
Aluminum How-To
"Chromating - Anodizing - Hardcoating"
by Robert Probert
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A. Hi Gangal,
Chemically pure titanium is graded by strength, with grade 1 being the least strong, and grade 4 the strongest. Some manufacturers claim their rack tip are made of Grade 4, and that seems to make sense to me for the tips and teeth. I see other manufacturers offering grades 1 and 2.
My guess is that Grade 4 will prove more durable for tips and teeth, but for the remainder of the rack it doesn't matter, and Grade 1 will be least expensive.
Further opinions and comments welcomed.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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